About ABC Illawarra

ABC Illawarra celebrated it's 50th Birthday in 2009. From humble beginnings it has grown to be the premier News/Talk station in the region. In 1959 the station was launched on the AM Band and had just 3 staff including the stations first news reader, Bruce Etheredge. The station grew through the decades and in the 1990's moved from it's original Keira Street studios to a newer building in the city centre. In 2010 ABC Illawarra moved again to new premises in Victoria Street Wollongong featuring state of the art studios and modern purpose designed offices.

There have been many landmarks in ABC Illawarra's history including in March 1991 when the station moved to the FM band and became known as 97.3 ABC Illawarra.

Wollongong was officially the first city in Australia to have an entirely ABC FM service.

In June of the same year Wollongong staffers Alistair Young and Julie Posetti moved into the newly opened ABC offices in Nowra.

The station was now broadcasting a Breakfast program between 5:30am and 7:45am hosted by Jeremy Prangnell and a Morning program between 8:30am and 11:00am, hosted by then Program Coordinator, Allan Clark.

Today ABC Illawarra broadcast even more local programs.

Early risers can enjoy Breakfast with Regional Program Manager Peter Riley between 5:30am and 7:45am weekdays, and Mornings with Nick Rheinberger from 8:30am until 11.00am.

There's more local broadcasting on the weekend.

Saturday features local programming starting with Breakfast with Mark Matthews who broadcasts from 6:00am, followed by Gardening with John Gabrielle at 8:30am and local Saturday Sport between 9:30am and 10:00am.

Local news bulletins are heard hourly in all programs, read by the station's news team.

ABC Illawarra is proudly committed to providing emergency broadcasting, and is now the official broadcaster for the SES and other emergency departments in the event of an emergency or natural disaster.

In February 2008, Regional Program Manager Peter Riley received some hands-on experience, after being sent to Karratha to report on Cyclone Nicholas.

In February 2009 he was sent into Ingham in North Queensland to set up a local transmitter in the region and provide local content for the flood bound residents.

ABC Illawarra is also committed to broadcasting local news stories and has provided up to date information on the ongoing ICAC investigation into Wollongong Council and the how this enquiry will affect the region.

97.3 ABC Illawarra has never provided better local coverage to the Illawarra region than it does today.

It is the leading talk and information station in the region.

This is a station that has continually endeavored to grow with its community, and will continue to do so.